Rep. Raye Felder wants South Carolinians to know “We will repeat history. We will have our Antebellum days back.” Felder made the comments in 2012 as a candidate for S.C. House 26, the seat she now holds, at a York County GOP meeting.
We’re interested in know, what does a return to Antebellum times look like for Representative Felder? For most South Carolinians, it certainly doesn’t look good.
The Antebellum period wasn’t just awful for slaves but many white families as well. There was rampant wealth inequality throughout the state, a lack of education, and a society totally dependent on a single crop, which isn’t exactly the best long term investment to make in 2018. Most families weren’t able to reap the benefits that went along with plantation agriculture and remained poor tenant farmers. So again, who exactly was this period good for?
If Rep. Felder thinks her status as a legislator would secure her place at the top of the food chain, she’d soon find herself out on the street. In the 19th century, women couldn’t vote, own property, or go to college let alone become elected officials. Not only does she want to set South Carolinians back, she’s willing to do so at a cost of disenfranchising herself.
Any time an elected official calls to return to a time where people could legally own slaves, it should be an immediate red flag. South Carolina’s Antebellum period was characterized by rampant inequality and systemic injustice for people of color. This is not the kind of language an elected official should be engaging with. It’s irresponsible and repugnant. Racist dog whistles have no place in this day and age, especially not in the political sphere.
I personally would love to see her out of office but I think for all South Carolinians it would be better if we voted her out instead of returning to the days of disenfranchising the majority of the state so a few wealthy white men could prosper.
You can see the comments for yourself here. She makes the Antebellum comment at the 2:40 mark.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71lRusRMu28&feature=youtu.be